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Six Local Schools Launch Crowdfunding Campaigns for MakerSpaces

BENTONVILLE, Ark. (Feb. 6, 2017)  Through a partnership with MakerEd, Google and the Childrens Museum of Pittsburgh, the Scott Family Amazeum is assisting six area schools with developing sustainable makerspaces and maker programs in their facilities. After months of planning, each school is launching a month-long crowdfunding campaign to raise funds for their projects.

The participating schools and students have put together tremendous plans, said Sam Dean, executive director of the Scott Family Amazeum. Now, like in any entrepreneurial venture, it is time to tackle the fund-raising portion to make those dreams come true.

Making and tinkering is a hands-on learning approach that builds valuable skills, confidence and promotes creativity. With community support, these schools can provide opportunities for thousands of students to make, create and invent.

The six schools  Arkansas Arts Academy (Rogers), J.O. Kelly Middle School (Springdale), The New School (Fayetteville), Old High Middle School (Bentonville), Washington Junior High School (Bentonville) and Willowbrook Elementary School (Bentonville)  have developed Makerspace plans appropriate to their own needs. Some range from mobile carts filled with tools and supplies to full-scale spaces. Each school also developed their own fund-raising campaigns to raise funds to implement and sustain their projects.

After the funds are raised, the Scott Family Amazeum will continue to serve as an ongoing resource to these schools as they integrate the maker programs into curriculum.

We are committed to helping these programs succeed, said Mindy Porter, director of education. Providing young people access to tools to tinker, create and make can teach them problem solving skills that are needed to compete in todays workforce.

About the Scott Family AmazeumThe Scott Family Amazeum is a hands-on, interactive museum for children and families located in Bentonville, Ark. A museum with a foundation in the arts and sciences, the Amazeum encourages creativity, curiosity and community through exhibits, educational collaboration, and programs, workshops and camps. Amazeum experiences include a climbable tree canopy, indoor cave, tinkering hub, nearly one acre of outdoor space, and ever-evolving daily pop-up activities. For more information, visit amazeum.org.